There are a lot of steps to consider in quitting smoking. Of course, the most important step is to decide to quit. Once you decide that, you need to come up with a plan to turn your decision into a reality.

Tips to stop smoking

• Talk to your doctor about your options

• Learn from your past attempts at quitting
  
  • Quitting is a trial and error process

  • Learn from your mistakes and successes

• Learn to avoid what triggers your smoking
  
  • Is it meals, drinking, stress or being around smokers?
  • If you typically smoke with your morning coffee, try to have your coffee somewhere where you can’t smoke
  • Practice avoiding your triggers before you quit

• Plan your smoke-free life
  
  • Set your quit date
  • Make your home smoke-free
  • Tell family, friends and co-workers your plans
  • Plan how to avoid smokers, tobacco urges and over-confidence

• Plan to cope
  
  • Expect withdrawal, urges to smoke, and perhaps even a relapse
  • Plan what to do if you do smoke. It can sometimes take four to five tries before you are completely successful.
  • Call the Canadian Cancer Society’s Smokers’ Helpline at 1-877-513-5333